Quick Hits!

posted by Jay -
Jun 30, 2017

According to a report out of Stanford University, whether folks are considered old should be based on the percentage of chance they’d die within the next year. Those "middle age" have a 1% or less chance, while “old” has a 2% chance and “very old” has a 4% chance or higher. In the 1920 “old” would be 55 for men and late fifties for women, while today those numbers increase to 70 for men and 73 for women.

Overall, Americans eat an average of 48 pints of ice cream per year. 98% of all U.S. households buy ice cream, with 87% of folks having ice cream in their freezer at any given time. The most popular ice cream flavor in the U.S. is vanilla, with chocolate syrup the most popular ice cream topping.

Instagram just rolled out a new feature that will automatically block “certain offensive comments” as well as spam. It’s easy to turn on and can be done in Instagram settings. Right now the offensive comments blocking is only available in English, but the spam filter is available in nine languages.

Many of us have given up Coke and Diet Coke and swapped those sweet sodas for sparkling waters, like LaCroix. We think we’re being healthy because these flavored bubbly waters don’t have sugar, but turns out they have another downside. According to Dr. Edmond R. Hewlett, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association, drinking a lot of flavored or bubbly water can erode tooth enamel.

There’s not a lot of research on the subject yet, but flavored water is acidic, and acidic drinks can cause tooth enamel to erode. In other words, this makes teeth more susceptible to cavities and more sensitive. And even if your sparkling water isn’t flavored, it’s also acidic because the carbon dioxide bubbles turn to carbonic acid in your mouth.

Plus, if you add lemon or lime to your bubbly water, you’re adding even more acid. But wait. Sparkling and flavored waters aren’t as acidic as sodas, so if you’re only drinking them in moderation, you’re safe.

Dr. Hewlett just advises you minimize how long the flavored water is touching your teeth. Eating food while you’re drinking them helps, too. And if you’re concerned, he suggests swishing with regular water after your bubbly beverage.

If it seems like you hear more about people having cosmetic surgery and procedures these days, and that’s because more people are doing it. According to a new report from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, 70% of consumers are considering getting a ‘non-invasive treatment.’ And that number has almost doubled since 2013!

When the 7,322 people were asked in the blind online survey why they wanted to have injectables, body-sculpting, laser treatments and such, they answered “to feel more confident,” to “look as young as I feel or better for my age,” and “to feel more attractive.”

So what are the most popular treatments people want to have done? The top four in this survey are:

And if you are one of the many people out there thinking of having some work done, you’ll be pleased to know thatDr. Min S. Ahn, a double-board certified facial plastic surgeon says the treatment options have gotten better. There are longer-lasting fillers with improved techniques so the results are more natural and better surgical techniques so you don’t end up with that “plastic” look. Cause NOBODY looks good like that!

Our friendships are some of the most important relationships we have in life. And that’s why it’s so important to hold onto the besties we have. So we need to be a good friend to keep our good friends, but how do you know if you’re succeeding with supporting your squad? Here’s how you can tell your BFFs think you’re a great friend.

They tell you the shameful stuff – The best friends are the ones who don’t judge you. So if your friends are open about the stuff they’re not proud of, like texting an ex, or hooking up with someone they regret, that’s a sign they trust you with anything.

You offer help before it’s solicited – The best friends know when you need them, even if you don’t reach out. Being able to sense when your pal is down or anxious means you’re tuned in to them, and a great friend.

You don’t keep score – Sometimes one of you has better finances and can afford to treat your buddy when you go out. And in the best friendships, there is a give-and-take where no one makes her friend feel bad for being the “taker.” If you give without “taking inventory” of what you’re getting in return, you’re a good friend.

You let your friends live – No guilt from a good friend when you’re spending less time with them because of your new love, or kid, or job. They know your friendship is strong and you’ll always be there for each other.

You don’t bail when things get bad– It’s easy to stick by your soul sister’s side when everything is happy go-lucky, but when she’s at her least lovable or behaving badly, a great friend still has her back.